Craters Stiborius & Piccolomini on the Terminator

At the end of a weekend with fine weather for mid - November, I was able to catch the Moon in skies mostly cloudy to my north. The lunar region I selected for sketching appeared very rugged in the long shadowed lighting. I was concerned I might not have enough time to sketch my targets. I was hoping for a two hour window but I got only 90 minutes. Crater Piccolomini is the larger (90 km.) target to the north (inverted view – Newtonian scope). The floor was 60% in shadow and the central mountain peak was casting a shadow to the inner rim, a beautiful sight. It is at Piccolomini that we begin to see Rupes Altai radiating into the terminator shadow. Overlapping craters at the north rampart of Piccolomini added to the view. To the southwest in the sketch, crater Stiborius (45 km.) was in deep shadow with only the rim illuminated. I could have used that extra 30 minutes but I must say the enjoyment of the view left me pleased.

Frank, lovely sketch mate. Very rugged "terrain" you selected to sketch, so detailed and dramatic. I'm also pleased at your sense of satisfaction, despite the session being cut short from what you would have liked. Almost like the sky is a 'prima donna', allowing what time it flippantly allows us before it closes up the show.

I've been away for a time, my apology, but not without being able to occasionally spy out the work on the sketching forum. Alas I have no new work to present at this time - the sky just hasn't been co-operative for a very long time. Actually, I haven't had dark sky time for over 13 months now. Fingers crossed things improve soon.

Lunar sketching is one of those many patient skills and talent I don't have. I admire the work of those who do. There is just so much to capture. I have a tendency to grab every crater-let, rille or white speck and never manage to finish. It's so much easier to fill in the elliptical limb of Jupiter than to render the moon. Well done, Frank.

Mighty fine work. Piccolomini is one of my favorite craters--it's everything a crater should be especially with that big central peak. Very dramatic view with the Altai Scarp trailing out into the terminator. You should be very pleased with this one.

Thank you both for the kind words. I always try and take advantage of clear November nights. They are rare in these parts.

On Wednesday evening I was planning a sketch of Rupes Recta if sky conditions held up and they did. The sun was just reaching beyond straight wall as I began sketching. Very enjoyable session.I set up to sketch Rupes Recta on the floor of Mare Nubium. From the eastern edge of Mare Nubium you can see the triplet craters, Thebit (57 km), A and L. Next moving westward is the Imbrian escarpment Rupes Recta , not a true wall in the usual sense but on one side standing more than 300meters high at some locations and 114 km in length. The scarp face would be visiblefrom the rim of young crater Birt’s (17 km) to the west of “straight wall” if you could get there. Touching the rim of Birt to the east is Birt A.